AARP Hearing Center
15 Smart Ways to Save on Summer Concert Tickets
These strategies can help you see your favorite artists with less impact on your wallet
Don't be afraid of nosebleed seats when looking for budget-friendly concert tickets.
AARP (Getty Images, 2)
Key takeaways
- Presales, fan clubs and credit card perks can help you secure tickets early and avoid resale markups.
- Weekday concerts and smaller venues often offer significantly lower ticket prices.
- Buying tickets at the box office may help you avoid online convenience and service fees.
If you’re planning to see Bonnie Raitt, Vince Gill, John Mellencamp or another classic performer this summer, brace yourself — ticket prices are near record highs.
The average ticket to a major concert, including fees, now costs about $120, according to a midyear report from concert industry trade publication Pollstar — and that’s before you’ve paid for parking, food and the tour T-shirt you swore you wouldn’t buy.
More Ways to Benefit
- Related Benefit 1
- Related Benefit 2
- Related Benefit 3
- Related Benefit 4
- Related Benefit 5
But it’s possible to enjoy a big summer tour without blowing quite so much of your budget. We spoke with financial professionals, concert insiders and seasoned fans who spend a lot of time navigating today’s ticket maze. They offered up plenty of ways to spend less, so you can leave the show humming the encore — not worrying about how to pay off your credit card bill.
Snag presales
Presale codes give fans early access to tickets before they go on sale to the general public (and get scarfed up by resellers who jack up prices). Here are some common ways to get them:
- Artist fan clubs. Members are often rewarded with presale access. (There may be a cost to join a fan club, so read the details before signing up.)
- Ticketmaster. Create an account with the ticket company and add performers and venues to your favorites list to get emails about upcoming presales.
- Album preorders. Some artists offer presale codes to fans who’ve pre-ordered their new album.
- Credit cards. Specialized cards and benefit programs such as Amex Experiences, Chase Experiences, Citi Entertainment, Mastercard’s Priceless and Capital One Entertainment offer cardholders presale access to tickets for concerts and other events.
- Radio stations. Listen closely to the stations that play your favorite artists, or visit their websites for details on how to sign up and secure presale passwords.
- Social media. Follow your favorite artists and venues — many post presale codes on Facebook, Instagram, X and other platforms.
- Spotify. When you actively listen and follow your favorite artists, Spotify may select you to receive a unique presale code. Premium members who frequently stream the artist may even be rewarded with two reserved tickets to purchase during a presale.
- Venues. Visit your favorite venues’ websites and subscribe to their newsletters for presale access.
- Cellphone providers. T-Mobile and Verizon offer presales and discounts to select shows.
Buy tickets at the box office
If you live near the venue, buying tickets in person may help you avoid online convenience and service fees. Some box offices even offer face-value tickets after online inventory sells out, says Kristal Terrell, who runs NOLA Concerts, a blog featuring concert listings in New Orleans.
Choose a weekday show
If your favorite artist schedules multiple performances in your city, the date you choose can make a difference. Friday and Saturday concerts tend to be the most popular, driving up ticket prices. Weeknight performances often offer lower rates.
Compare and track ticket prices
If you missed the presale or general public sale and are looking for resale tickets, it’s worth comparing listings across multiple marketplaces, says Matt Schulz, chief consumer finance analyst at LendingTree and author of Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More: How to Take Control of Your Financial Life.
He recommends sticking to major resale platforms like Ticketmaster, SeatGeek and StubHub, which offer buyer protection and verified tickets. (Avoid purchasing tickets off Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, where there’s no safety net if the ticket turns out to be fake.) Review the full cost breakdown, including fees, before completing your purchase.
Aggregation tools and sites like Event Spy, TicketIQ, Ticketwood and ConcertPal can do the legwork for you, comparing the same seat across multiple resale sites so that you’re not toggling among a dozen browser tabs. Some aggregators let you set price-drop alerts, so you can find out the moment a ticket price falls.
Play the waiting game
For some concertgoers, buying tickets at the last minute sounds like a stress-inducing gamble. It’s Meghan Lim’s go-to strategy. Lim, who shares money-saving tips on Instagram, waits until the day of the show to purchase resale tickets — ticket holders’ plans change, she notes, and they may be willing to sell below the original price to recoup at least a portion of what they spent.
One FinanceBuzz report found concertgoers spent 33 percent less than average on resale tickets when purchasing them on the day of a concert, and 27 percent less when buying them the day before. And some venues offer “rush tickets” — seats for same-day shows — to select members of the community, such as older adults, teachers, students, first responders and military personnel.
But try this trick strategically, Schulz warns. For high-demand blockbuster tours like AC/DC or Guns N’ Roses, waiting until the last minute to buy a resale ticket is more likely to leave you empty-handed.
Don’t rule out the nosebleeds
Melanie Lockert, a personal finance writer and author of Dear Debt: A Story About Breaking Up With Debt, is a fan of nosebleed seats, which typically cost significantly less than those at the front of the house.
“I think we sometimes convince ourselves we have to be close to the stage, but honestly, you’re there for the music and the experience,” she says. “Being part of the crowd and hearing the music live is what really matters.”
Look for perks you already have
While it won’t slash the price of concert tickets, your credit card might help offset expenses through cash-back rewards. Some rewards cards allow cardholders to use reward points to buy tickets, reducing out-of-pocket costs.
Check if your credit card offers other perks, says Terrell. For example, Chase has a lounge at Madison Square Garden where cardholders can get free food and drinks before shows, Amex offers cardholders access to exclusive lounges at certain venues and Capital One offers select cardholders free food and drinks at some venues.
Also, see if your employer offers discounted concert tickets through corporate benefits portals like TicketsatWork, Working Advantage and Perks at Work.
Search for discount codes
If you’re buying tickets online, search for the artist’s name and “discount code.” “It only takes a minute, and sometimes you’ll find a promotional code that saves you money,” says Lockert.
If you’re just looking for something fun to do next weekend and not set on seeing a particular artist, visit Ticketmaster’s deals page for offers like half-priced tickets, buy-one, get-one deals and tickets for under $40. And local symphonies, opera houses and arts centers often offer discounts for older adults.
Take surveys
Live Nation Sound Board is an online community for live music enthusiasts where members can participate in surveys, polls and discussions in exchange for points that are redeemable for Live Nation gift cards. “It’s basically getting rewarded just for sharing your opinions,” Terrell says.
Enter ticket giveaways
While it’s a long shot, a giveaway could help you score free concert seats. Lockert has won tickets to two music festivals by entering online contests.
Follow artists, local radio stations, venues and concert promoters on social media for opportunities. Participating in giveaways may require liking a post, tagging a friend or sharing content.
Sign up for seat-filling services
Not all shows sell out, and many venues would rather fill empty seats for nothing rather than leave them vacant. Lockert suggests checking websites such as OTL Seat Fillers, Seatfillers and More, SeatStir and SeatJunky, which offer members free tickets to shows with leftover seats.
Work your way in
If you’re willing to help out before the show starts, you may not have to buy a ticket at all. Some venues offer free admission to volunteers who perform tasks like greeting attendees, assisting at will call or selling merchandise, drinks or food.
“I used to volunteer at concerts through organizations like Reverb and HeadCount,” says Terrell.
Another option is to serve as an usher, says Lockert. After helping people find their seats, you’ll be able to listen to the show gratis.
Catch a show in another city
If you’re willing to travel, you may find significantly cheaper tickets in a different city. During Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, some fans discovered it was less expensive to fly overseas to see a show than to buy tickets in certain U.S. cities.
While traveling, Brent Neiser, finance expert and host of What’s Next With Money on YouTube, has caught concerts in smaller markets where ticket prices were lower — and the venues were more intimate than big stadiums, he says.
Look beyond major concert venues
Don’t limit your search to stadiums, arenas and big theaters. Check event calendars at botanic gardens, community arts venues and regional performing arts centers for low-priced shows, Neiser suggests.
Summer is also a great time to take advantage of free outdoor concert programs.
Livestream a concert and host a watch party
“The entire concert industry has changed — how artists make money, how tickets are sold and how consumers experience live entertainment,” says Neiser. One radical change: Many artists now sell livestream access to performances on platforms such as Veeps, Nugs and Volume.
Invite your neighbors and friends over, and scratch the live-concert itch without the sticker shock.
AARP Membership
Join AARP for only $15 per year with automatic renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of benefits, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine.
More From AARP
99 Great Ways to Save
Stretch your dollars — and cut costs on groceries, travel, entertainment and more
Is Duty-Free Shopping a Good Deal?
Tax-free does not guarantee a bargain. Make sure to research prices and avoid impulse buys
Money Tips: Lending to Friends and Family
Helping friends or family shouldn’t mean hurting your finances